What is now being evaluated and tested is the use of "softgoods" to fashion inflatable/expandable airlocks and off-Earth habitats, not only for low Earth orbit, but also to provide comfy housing ...

The idea isn't exactly new. As Space.com points out, there are three inflatable space habitat modules orbiting the Earth right now, all of which were developed and built by Bigelow Aerospace ...

Today, several leading firms are pushing forward on expandable structures in space, such as the new startup Max Space, which is working on inflatable habitats for Earth orbit, the moon and Mars.